About Charlotte Amalie's Frenchmans Bay

Wednesdays are traditionally the day for open houses on St. Thomas. They are open mainly to brokers and agents. Although you are not prohibited from bringing your customer. Today there were a total of six open houses.

I started out with the thought of trying to identify the best buy, but it really depends on your needs.

The first home was in Frenchman's Bay. A duplex, two, 2 bedrooms 2 baths, mirror images of each other with a 1 bedroom apartment downstairs, nicely renovated, garage and a private beach. As an income investment you could probably generate $6000 a month by renting out all three units, which could go a fair distance on helping to pay the mortgage on the $1.35 million asking price depending on how much you put down.

Just next door was a townhouse that had been renovated to be one, 3 bedroom 3 bath home on the main levels with a 1 bedroom apartment down stairs. This home has a large infinity edged pool, private beach, and no garage. More of a home, I see a family owning and using the apartment for a nanny, in-law or guest suite. You would have to be able to comfortably afford the $2.2 million asking price.

The pool pictured on the left above, belongs to the house in Solberg and is located right in the center of the home. It opens to the deck and overlooks the Caribbean Sea, port harbor of Charlotte Amalie, Water and Hassle Islands, one of the most coveted view on St. Thomas. One of the bedrooms, the kitchen and dining rooms are on one side and the master bedroom suite in on the other side. This too, has a one bedroom apartment downstairs. I envision a younger or older couple, living here, due to the two bedrooms and the pool is not so you could prevent young children from accessing it. The asking price on this one is $450,000.

The largest home was in Frenchman's Bay, consisting of some 7000 sq. ft. It has 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths on the main level and 3 bedrooms and 3 baths below, a large pool with a huge deck and sits close to the water. I see this home filled with a large family. Perhaps including grandparents, children ranging in ages, and parents who love to entertain often. Whether it is having the entire soccer team over or throwing a fund raiser for their favorite charity, it is on a flat lot so there is lots of parking. The asking price on this home is $1.6 million. There are some finishing touches that still need to be made on this home, but it is a grand villa with marble floors and custom work throughout.

There is a cute, I call it, a doll house, in Frenchman's Bay. This home has 2 bedrooms , 1 bath, a garage, a covered gallery that has a fabulous view of the cruise ships coming in, an efficiency apartment downstairs and great neighbors, I am told. Well maintained and loved by it's owner but the time has come to move. I see this as a great starer home for a young couple or a single person who wants more privacy than a condo can offer. It is priced at $425,000.

The last home I visited was a gated compound. There are two buildings containing a total of 4 separate living areas which share a very large pool with expansive decking, an outdoor kitchen and cabana bathroom. There are a total of 9 bedrooms and eight baths not counting the cabana bathroom. I see this being purchased by a corporation, using it as a retreat/think tank/ training center. The complex sits on the waterfront and I am sure has some of the best snorkeling around. The owners are throwing in a few kayaks for the adventurer in you. The stonework and tiling is exceptional. The place is built to surpass all building codes, has an automatic generator. If you have food delivered, you would never have to leave and you may not want to. It is offered at $5.5 million.

There is a broad selection of real estate on St. Thomas. If your looking, let Van Blake-Coleman Realty, help you find what will work for you!

It's four in the afternoon on the Harbor of Charlotte Amalie, in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Happy hour at Frenchman's Cove, a newer timeshare subdivision of the Marriott Hotel, in Frenchman's Bay is featuring St. Thomas' hot new groups, two for one drinks, breath taking scenery, happy tourist, a few local folks and lots of sunshine of more than one kind.

I was invited by friends, who I have been working with to find an investment property. Their daughter is the vocalist for Liquid Sunshine. When my business partner and I arrived, they were sitting at a table just outside of the bar in front of the band. We had just picked up a new listing of a great lot with a stunning view in Mahogany Run and looked at a condo on the East end of the island that is in the process of being rehabbed. When offered a drink, I decide to celebrate a bit and ordered a rum punch (what else would you order when your neighboring island, St. Croix, manufactures some of the best rum in the world, Cruzan).

As I took the elevator down to the pool area I had noticed a fair sized gathering of people were scattered around the facilities, sitting at tables, at the bar, lounging in the pool, on deck chairs, in the hot tub or laying on the beach.

Liquid Sunshine Band, the entertainment; consists of vocalist Ines, Tim on guitar and vocals and Tom as the percussionist. They begin to play, preforming a wide range of numbers all of which make you smile, sway and sing along. People pull closer to the band, Children stop playing to listen to the smooth tunes and easy beat. Babies clap as their moms rock them to the rhythm. It is infectious. Some people dance by themselves, others dance and sing together. Watching them makes me smile even more because I know they are enjoying it as much as I am.

We playfully joke about a guy who gets out of the hot tub with a Speedo style bathing suite with large stars on it. My friends husband request that his wife buy him one with both stars and stripes. No harm meant, just fun. The man was mature and actually wore the suite well.

What a great way to spend a late afternoon. I was able to schedule showings for the next day and respond to some inquiries via text, ahhh, technology.

If you are interested in real estate in the U.S. Virgin Islands follow the link, to search the Multiple Listings (MLS) to look at what is available or call 340 344 2959 for personal assistance. My website is www.talk-to-tanya.com